J.Jaffer v. The Director/Cs

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 24.04.2026 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI and W.M.P. Nos.15372 and 15378 of 2026 and Cont. P. No.1635 of 2026 and Sub Appl. No.474 of 2026 J.Jaffer ..Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1The Director/CS The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited, Stateman House, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi - 110 001.

¶2The Group General Manager, The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited, South Zone, No.6-A, The Rain Tree Palace, No.9, MC Nichols Road, Chetpet, Chennai - 600 021.

¶3The Joint General Manager CS, The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited, No.6-A, The Rain Tree Palace, No.9, MC Nichols Road, Chetpet, Chennai - 600 021.

¶4The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Divisional Office, Commercial Branch, Southern Railway, Chennai.

¶5The Divisional Commercial Manager, Divisional Office, Commercial Branch, 2nd Floor, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.

¶6The Assistant Commercial Manager, II/MAS, Divisional Office, Commercial Branch, Chennai - 600 003.

¶7M/s.Vijayasri Food and Catering West Godavari, Rep. by its Proprietor, MR.Anil Kumar Pappala, 20F-19-30/1, Chodidibba, SR Beedi Company Road, Eluru, West Godavari - 534 002. ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for entire records pertaining to the order No.M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS (e-office 110229) of the 4th respondent

dated

27.03.2026,

consequential

order

in M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS/PF.No.10/11 of the 4th respondent dated 02.04.2026, consequential notice in M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS/New concourse of the 6th respondent dated 03.04.2026 and consequential contract agreement No.MPPS-02-MAS-2026-1, dated 13.02.2026 entered between the 4th respondent and the 7th respondent, commencing from 18.04.2026 and quash the same consequently direct the 4th respondent to grant propionate extension of license period by 273 days to the petitioner with respect to the letter of award No.M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS, dated 02.03.2020 and consequential multipurpose stall license agreement dated 21.06.2023 as claimed by the petitioner in his representation dated 20.01.2026. In Cont. P. No.1635 of 2026 J.Jaffer ..Petitioner(s) vs. Barath Kumar The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Divisional Office, Commercial Branch, Southern Railway, Chennai. Respondent Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondent for wilful disobedience of the order dated

09.04.2026 passed by this Court in W.M.P. No.15372 of 2026 in W.P. No.14091 of 2026. In W.P. No.14091 of 2026 For Petitioner : Mrs.Radha Gopalan Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Saravanan For Respondents : Mr. AR.L. Sundaresan Asst. Solicitor General Asstd by Mr.K. R. Samratt for RR1-6 In Cont. P. No.1635 of 2026 For Petitioner : Mrs.Radha Gopalan Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Saravanan For Respondent : Mr. AR.L. Sundaresan Asst. Solicitor General Asstd by Mr.K. R. Samratt COMMON ORDER W.P. No.14091 of 2026 has been filed to call for entire records pertaining to the order No.M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS (e-office 110229) of the 4th respondent dated 27.03.2026, consequential order in M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS/PF.No.10/11 of the 4th respondent dated 02.04.2026, consequential notice in M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS/New concourse of the 6th respondent dated 03.04.2026 and consequential contract agreement No.MPPS-02-MAS-2026-1, dated

13.02.2026 entered between the 4th respondent and the 7th respondent, commencing from 18.04.2026 and quash the same consequently direct the 4th respondent to grant extension of license period by 273 days to the petitioner with respect to the letter of award No.M/C.79/MPPS-02/MAS, dated

02.03.2020 and consequential multipurpose stall license agreement dated

21.06.2023 as claimed by the petitioner in his representation dated 20.01.2026.

¶2Contempt Petition No.1635 of 2026 has been filed for the alleged wilful disobedience of the order dated 09.04.2026 passed by this Court in W.M.P. No.15372 of 2026 in W.P. No.14091 of 2026.

¶3Earlier, this Court, vide order dated 09.04.2026 in W.M.P. No.15372 of 2026, granted an order of interim stay and the respondent Board was directed not to take any co-ercive steps against the petitioner in the said issue till the next date of hearing i.e., on 20.04.2026.

¶4On 20.04.2026, learned counsel on either side sought time to get instructions with regard to appointment of an Arbitrator and accordingly, the matter was adjourned to 24.04.2026 (today).

¶5Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Solicitor General appearing for the respondents submitted that the parties by consensus have agreed to appoint an Arbitrator for resolving the disputes between them.

¶6Recording the above submissions made by learned counsel on either side, this writ petition stands disposed of with the following directions :-

i) This Court appoints Mr.B. Vijay, learned counsel (Enrolment No.1253 of 2007) who is having office at 257, 2nd Floor, Canara Bank Building, Angappanaicken Street, Parrys, Chennai – 1, Opp. to High Court (Mobile No.9840445527) as a sole Arbitrator to resolve the issue between the petitioner and the respondents arising out of the agreement/ Letter of Award dated 02.03.2020.

(ii) The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and shall complete the the proceedings, preferably within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

(iii) The learned Arbitrator shall fix his fees and the same shall be borne by the parties equally. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions as well as contempt petition and sub application are closed.

24.04.2026 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-speaking order Note to office : Issue order copy on 27.04.2026 vsi2 W.P.oNo.14091oofo2026 M.oDHANDAPANI,oJ.o vsi2 W.P.oNo.14091oofo2026 and W.M.P.oNos.15372oando15378oofo2026 and Cont.oP.oNo.1635oofo2026 and SuboAppl.oNo.474oofo2026

24.04.2026